Tuesday, May 18, 2010

What a difference a by-election result made...

to the mainstream media... in particular, the radio and television networks.

I can still remember surfing the internet and watching the television on April 25 evening, looking out for results streaming in. I was happy with the initial lead as at 7.12 by Zaib Ibrahim, according to Malaysiakini as I had posted: http://kosongcafe.blogspot.com/2010/04/hulu-selangor-good-news-for-pkr-up-to.html

But later in the evening, if I remember correctly, Malaysiakini's report stopped some time after 8.00pm and reports in various sites like Lim Kit Siang, Anil Netto, and Zorro unmasked, gave the impression it was a lost cause already. The best part was the news that all the bigwigs of Barisan Nasional were on their way to celebrate the victory! I am sure most people who had been following the various sources for information would have felt it weird that before the announcement, BN leaders seemed to know they have won! If the final result was a victory by a wide margin I would have understood the foregone conclusion at the time but the majority was only a meagre 1,725! Of course, all the mainstream networks gave full publicity to the celebration by the new MP, in the company of the PM, DPM and other Ministers as well as all the other BN leaders.

Just three weeks later, on May 16, we were on our way back from Lumut. I was anxious to know the results of the by-election in Sibu, Sarawak. It was past 9.00pm when I switched on the television and not a single channel showed flash results of the by-election which from my experience, means good news to DAP. In other words, with mainstream media, no news means good news, and great publicity means scandal of one kind or another relating to an opposition party. My daughter was quick to remind me not to assume anything until it is known.

Checked the internet but none the wiser, apart from unofficial results of a DAP leading by more than 2,000 votes pending the results of the postal votes. As it was later criticized by YB Lim Kit Siang, why was there a two and a half hours of delay in announcing the postal votes? Can we the public be blamed for thinking there was going to be a last minute tampering to change the results? It has all to do with credibility, in this case, the lack of, with the partial Election Commission.

Later in the night, past 10.00 pm, still no official announcement and virtual blackout on television networks. It was past 11.00pm when I was watching NTV7, I saw a backdrop of the stage where an Election Commission official was about to make an announcement. After a brief statement, the screen went blank for a few minutes before he came on again. Heckling, shouting and booing could be heard after he finally announced the victory of DAP's Wong Ho Leng.

It was later reported that the election agents of DAP and other Pakatan parties were giving the EC officials a hard time which caused the delay in announcing the final results of the postal votes. There were instances of dubious details given in the forms as well as forms taken home which could result in selling and tampering, which number into hundreds. With final majority at 398, the close scrutiny by the election agents at the counting stage had been crucial and should be commended.
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